At the mountain of God, Horeb,The point of abandonment to Divine Providence is not that the earthquakes and the storms and the fire will not come. They will come, and they shake and damage and terrify. But God is not in them.
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
"Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by."
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
(1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a)
God does come accompanied by signs and wonders. Moses finds the burning bush a remarkable sight, and later on the mountain of the Lord, God's presence is accompanied by smoke, thunder, lightning, and loud blasts. But Moses doesn't interact with the bush. The voice of God is much more personal: cajoling, soothing, commanding, revealing his name. On the mountain of the Lord, when Moses asks to see God's glory, God tucks him safely away in the darkness of a cleft in the rock, sheltering Moses with the divine hand so that he may not die. God speaks in the silence of our hearts, and if there is nothing in our hearts but the earthquake and the storm and the fire, his voice may not be heard.
"The LORD says to you: Do not fear or be dismayed at the sight of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. ...You will not have to fight in this encounter. Take your places, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD". (2 Chron. 20:15,17)
Prayer for Ordering a Life Wisely, by Thomas Aquinas
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